I'm sure we'll have some insurance experts chime in soon, but my take on it would be no, at least not legally. Texas requires that ALL motor vehicles you own must be registered in Texas and I believe one needs a Texas driver's license to register a vehicle.

It's the other way around. Before we could get our Texas drivers licenses, we had to register all our vehicles in Texas.

Sounds like a situation a friend of mine encountered several years ago (don't remember the state). He couldn't get a driver's license until he could show proof of insurance on his car and he couldn't get insurance until he had a valid driver's license. He wound up getting a driver's license in another state which then permitted him to get insurance and finally get his driver's license in the state where he lived.

Orick, according to the Texas DMV website you donīt need a Texas drivers licence to register your vehicle. Of course for insurance you would have to show your international drivers licence, which I have. The RV will be bought in Texas, probably with a clear title, what exactly does that mean?

Tom, Thanks for pointing me to this useful document, unfortunately it is not telling me if a friends address is acceptable for the DMV

Hopefully we can get the anwser to the question, I recon that a lot of people have done this, so it must be around...

Thomas, if someone here doesn't have an answer, you should be able to get a definitive response for each state by visiting the respective state Department of Motor Vehicles web site &/or by contacting the respective state DMV. Here's the California DMV web site:

Orick, according to the Texas DMV website you donīt need a Texas drivers licence to register your vehicle. Of course for insurance you would have to show your international drivers licence, which I have. The RV will be bought in Texas, probably with a clear title, what exactly does that mean?

[Best regards,

Thomas

Glad the international DL will work for you. As for your question (The RV will be bought in Texas, probably with a clear title, what exactly does that mean?)... I'm not sure what you're asking. I didn't make that statement and I assume you know that clear title means you pay cash and don't finance.

With regard to insurance, although in getting quotes we have been asked if we have an international driving license, it has never been a requirement. IHMO an IDLicence is a scam. Only one company seems to provide it (IDL Service.com) at a cost somewhere over $100, by the time you have added this, that and packaging. It appears to be only a translation of your driving licence into English, so that it can be read by US officials, and guess what? - Mine (UK) is written in English anyway! More legitimate may be an ID Permit, available from specified Post office, over the counter, or by post for Ģ5.50, (plus a photo and current driving licence - check the website: http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/apply-for-an-idp-at-a-post-office.html). It does the same job, if you think you need one.Though I do not have one, this may be a more useful item for people with the old style licence, as it combines a photo with your signature and may replace the DL so beloved of the US for identifying yourself, something which is becoming more and more common in US. It is even becoming common practice in some areas when buying gas!The problem of not having an US DL with insurance is the lack of driving record, which adds a premium to any quote.Acquiring a US DL is fun, but will only be valid for the time you are in the USA. As soon as you leave the US your temporary licence is invalid, so therefore your insurance would become invalid. Incidently, however, even having an expired US DL seems acceptable to most places as ID.